A month ago, every part of daily life in Florence felt new. I was constantly checking google maps, translating conversations in my head as well as trying to keep up with a city that still felt unfamiliar. Now, as I begin my second month at AEF, I’ve realised the biggest changes haven’t been dramatic. They’ve been the small, everyday moments that make Florence feel more like home. .
In particular, it’s not just my Italian that is improving, but that Florence itself is starting to feel familiar. Streets that I once had to constantly navigate are slowly becoming recognisable and daily routines are beginning to feel natural rather than overwhelming.
One of the clearest signs of this change has been in everyday interactions. While vintage shopping recently, I explained in Italian that I was still learning the language. Instead of switching straight to English, the shopkeepers continued speaking to me in Italy, patient, encouraging and happy to keep the conversation going. A month ago, I probably would have avoided that conversation altogether! .
Even simple things like ordering food feel different now. I no longer feel like I am rehearsing sentence in advance. It still takes effort, and of course mistakes still happen, but there’s a growing sense of confidence behind it. I’ve also started to build small connections in everyday places. For example, getting to know bar staff and having more informal, spontaneous conversations that go beyond just ordering. Those casual exchanges have made Italian feel more natural and less like something I only use in structured situations.
Moving into a C1 class this month has also been a reminder of the progress. It feels exciting but doesn’t suddenly mean I speak perfect Italian. If anything, it shows how much there still is to learn. The biggest shift isn’t that I’ve stopped making mistakes, it’s that I’m becoming less afraid of making them.
Some of the most meaningful learning happens outside of lessons. Spending afternoons at the Biblioteca Marucelliana, just around the corner from school, has given me a quiet space to study surrounded by centuries of history. Visiting the Florence in the 1950s and 1960s photography exhibition at Villa Bardini, exploring Palazzo Pitti and attending a dance performance at Villa La Quiete have all deepened my understanding of the city in different ways.
This sense of connection became ever clearer during local events. Watching the historic procession pass below my apartment before Calcio Storico and standing among thousands of people for the San Giovanni fireworks made me realise I wasn't just watching Florence anymore - I was experiencing traditions alongside the people who live here. .
This growing familiarity has also changed how I move through the world here. Taking a solo day trip to Lucca is something I don’t think I would have done in my first week. Back then, navigating train stations, buying tickets, and speaking Italian all felt intimidating. Now, while it still requires effort, it feels exciting rather than overwhelming.
As I move into my second month, my goals feel less about big changes and more about continuation. I hope to continue improving my Italian steadily, especially in confidence and fluency, to explore more of Florence and the wider Tuscany region and to stay open to the unexpected moments that often end up being the most memorable. .
Looking back, it’s clear that the real transformation hasn’t come from one defining moment, but from all the small ones adding up, in ordering lunch without hesitation, in recognising familiar streets, in studying in quiet libraries, in travelling alone and in taking part in local traditions. Slowly, those moments have made Florence feel less like a place I’m studying in, and more like a place I’m actually living in.
HIGHLIGHTS OF THE WEEK
Favourite meal: Rigatoni at Osteria Santo Spirito
Favourite place: Bellosguardo Belvedere
New phrase learned: ‘Parli del diavolo e spuntano le corna’ (‘Speak of the devil and the horns appear’)
What I am looking forward to: Getting to know all the new people in my class bette
Until next time,
Baci e abbracci!
Charlotte
Charlotte Young
